Filed under: Swansea, Millwall, Championship, Football, Match Previews
CHAMPIONSHIP: THE NEW DEN, SATURDAY APRIL 30, 2011. KICK-OFF: 1500 BSTSwansea are already assured of a place in the play-offs, although it would take a miracle for them to achieve automatic promotion, and they will face no sterner test before that knock-out mini-tournament begins than their trip to the New Den.
Should Millwall win and Nottingham Forest fail to beat Scunthorpe then Kenny Jackett's side will join the Swans in the play-off slots with just one fixture remaining.
Indeed, Jackett, who led Swansea to promotion from the bottom division during his three-year spell in charge of the Welsh outfit has yet to lose against his former club.
It all adds up to potentially the most exciting fixture in the Championship this weekend.
Key match-up: Andros Townsend v Angel Rangel. Townsend, the on-loan Spurs winger is a lively presence on the left and also takes the free-kicks for the Lions. Rangel will be out to nullify his threat, in the knowledge that Millwall are also keen to sign him next season.
Form guide: Millwall, last season's League One play-off winners, have hit form just in time. They have won their last two matches and six of their last nine games overall, losing only one. Swansea have stumbled a little in recent weeks, with their 4-1 win over Ipswich on Monday only their second victory in their last six games, which saw them lose two and draw two.
Odds: Millwall 11/8, Swansea 2/1, draw 9/4.
MILLWALL:
Millwall's players are in fine form on the pitch and know they will be given enthusiastic backing from the New Den faithful, as winger Hamer Bouazza can testify.
The Algeria international's previous experience of English football was with Watford and Fulham but it was the Millwall experience that reminded him of home.
"I knew about the supporters before I signed," he told millwallfc.co.uk. "They have been amazing to play in front of every week. It is a club that prides itself on the atmosphere they create and since I have been here it reminds me of playing for Algeria and the atmosphere of international matches. It reminds me of being back home and that is a great thing to feel."
Strategy: Jackett has a good old-fashioned selection dilemma to ponder as Steve Morison, the Wales international striker and previous automatic choice up front, returns after a three-game ban at a time when Josh McQuoid and teenager John Marquis have been finding the net in his absence.
Last weekend, in the 4-0 thrashing of Preston, McQuoid was on target for the first time since joining in December from Bournemouth and the Northern Ireland international was keen to add more.
"When I first came here I had a stomach muscle injury then I came back and got an ankle injury so that set me back a bit," he said. I took my time to get in my stride but now I'm back and I'm fit and hopefully I will carry on playing.
"Obviously there is a bit of pressure on you when you come. The manager bought me and expected big things of me but all I could do was work hard in the gym, work hard to get fit and do my best when I come back.
"There was no pressure on me from the manager. He kept on talking to me and telling me to bide my time. I wasn't expecting to come here and score goals straight away anyway because it's a step up in league and there are good players there. I took my time and got back into the swing of things and now hopefully I can kick on from here."
Injury update: Neil Harris is banned and fellow forward Kevin Lisbie remains sidelined by an ankle injury but defender Alan Dunne (eye) and midfielder Liam Trotter (hip) could return. Craig Eastmond, the midfielder on loan from Arsenal, won't play again this season however after suffering a broken leg.
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